Spring bed-bottom.



' No. 739,360. PATENTED SEPT. 22,1903.-

J. W TERRY.

SPRING BED BOTTOM. APPLICATION FILED DEC. 12, 1901.

N0 MODEL.

GM v j 1Z A H Qxhtwemo guuewtoz Jvlh @31 v attozmqa E E E l mm Pm a w. mm WWW u c UNIT D STATES.

PatentedSeptember 22, 1903. I I

PATENT- OFFICE.

JOHN W. TERRY, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT.

.SPRIN'G el-z'o eor rogvl.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 739,360, dated Sept ember22, 1903.

Application filed December 12,1901. semi Nb. 85,614. (No mast.)-

To all whom it may concern: 4

Be it known that 1, JOHN W. TERRY, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of New Haven, county of New Haven, and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and usefullImprovements in Spring Bed-Bot,

toms, ofwhich the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a partthereof, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

This invention relates to spring bed-bottoms, and has for its' principal objects the maintenance of an approximately level springsurface, while preventing in an economical manner the spring sag at points incurring the greatest load. 1

With the above and other purposes in view the invention consists, primarily, of a spring bed-bottom-in which the spiral coils are connected bya novel arrangement of-wires,which while aifording diagonally-lateral as well as longitudinal bracingbetween the" COiIS'PI'G? yield proportionate with the load each is or-' dinarily designed to support.

There are other novel features and details connected with the present invention, which are also more fully referredto hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure lis a plan view of so much of a spring bed-bottom as will suffice to show certain features of my infully explained.

. ig. 6, taken o the'dotted line '7 7 of said figure.

The framing of the improved bed-bottom is presented by the parallel longitudinal bottom strips A, connected and relatively held by transverse end and intermediate braces B, C, and D. Mounted. and secured on' the framing are spiral springs E, preferably of the familiar inverted shape, the uppercoils of which are peculiarly bent, as will presently be more These springs are disposed in both longitudinal and transverse rows, as

customary, with theexception that the distances between the same increase longitudinally at certain points along the bottom and in the direction of the foot thereof.

' The upper coils. of the springs E, except those of the marginal end and side rows, are bent to present four equidistant offsets e, the several oifsets of each spring being inalinement with the corresponding'oifsets immediately in longitudinal and transverse series therewith. Short longitudinal tiewires F each pivotally connect a pair of the springs E by having their looped ends fengage the contiguous offsets 6 thereof, each of said looped endsf also pivotally clamping the central bend f of a transverse angular tierod F, the outer looped ends f of which pivotally engage the depressions e of springs in the longitudinal series at each side, but in a slightly different transverse plane.

It will be noted that a pairof relatively reversed transverse tie-wires F are arranged between each longitudinal pair of springs,

with their outer looped ends converged and in pivotal engagement withthe ofisets of the springs in an intermediate" transverse plane at each side. By this means the springs are normally supported so that their upper coils will be practically in .the same horizontal plane, While the novel disposition of the rods F F and the depressed character of the offsets e insures connections between the different springs, resulting, substantiallyfln a uniform spring-bearing surface. Obviously as the spaces longitudinally increasebetween the. springs the lengths of the wires '-F .and the angularity of the wiresFl arecorrespondingly augmented. Thus the springs and tiewires F F are more closely arranged at one portion of the bed-bottom than at the others, the variation or widening in the relation of the parts being of a graduated character and shown in Fig. 1 as occurring in the direction of the foot. By this means one part of the springsurfacesay from the head to the point indicated by the dotted line a2will be more rigid, and consequently particularly adapted to support the load imposed by the body of the occupant, while the remaining part of the spring-surface will be capable of yielding more readily under the lesser loads incurred, the yield being of graduated charactor to provide for the diminishing load in the direction of the foot. The spaces between the marginal springs at the sides are spanned by the tie-wires F which longitudinally connect the springs together by engaging the offsets thereof, the loops f of said wires also clamping yoke-shaped tie-wires F to said springs, while the inner converging members F of said yoke have end loops f engaging the ofisets of the nearest spring E in the next parallel longitudinal series. The yoke shape of the wires F provides for the specially peculiar bracing required at the sides, while their rounded outer portions, which intermit with the outer rounded parts of the marginal side springs, conduce to a finished appearance at the sides.

G designates a transverse horizontal rod at the outer side of the head-springs. This rod has end bends G, which are secured by metal clips g to the upper coil of the oppositely-remote head-springs, while the main transverse portion of the rod is also secured to all the l1ead-springs,the connection with each spring being made by clips g g, embracing the upper coil at slightly-separated points. That portion of each upper head-coil which is between the clips g g is embraced by a horizontally-folded section H, of felt, secured in position by a staple h, which passes down through the folds of the felt between the rod and coil portion and is clenched at the under side of the bottom thickness.

The feltsections I-I constitute fenders to cushion the contact of the rod G and headsprings with parts of the head of the bedstead.

The rod G has slight depressions immediately beneath the upper folds of the fenders to clear the same.

Slight inward bends g in the rod at appropriate points provide for the proper engagement of the longitudinal tie-wires F also connecting with the springs E in the transverse series next succeeding the head-springs. The rod G has the additional function of aiding in properly maintaining the position of the head-springs.

Transverse tie-wires F F pivotally connectthe foot-springs and serve for the anchoring engagement of the outer ends of the longitudinal wires F It will be noted that inasmuch asone of the ends f of the tie-wires F at the foot pivotally engages the upper coils of the relatively remote foot-springs at their inner sides the wires F extend across the tops of said remote springs and pivotally engage the upper coils thereof at their outer sides, said springs having a connection with the rest of the system both at their inner and outer sides, thus serving to efficiently brace and support the same with relation to the rest of the spring-bottom. The foot-springs are also provided with fenders. This is attained by securing the ends of a short transverse section of wire K to the outer portion of the upper coil of each spring at separated points and applying a folded felt-section L to that portion of the coil between such connections and securing it in position by a staple Z, passing down through both folds between the coil and wire K and clenched beneath the bot- 'tom fold.

From the foregoing description it will be appreciated that the improved bed-bottom embodying my invention is comparatively light and simple in construction and economically presents a spring-bearing surface involving strength and yielding qualities at different points proportionate with the load to be supported. Moreover, the springs are capable of a free individual movement, while their normal relative positions are assured. Derangement, damage, and noise that might result from movement of parts at the head of the bottom are eifeotively avoided.

Modifications and changes may be made in the improved bed-bottom without altering the character or departing from the spirit of my invention.

In a copending application filed by me December 12, 1901, Serial No. 85,613, I have disclosed a bed bottom in some respects similar to that described herein. I do not wish to be understood as making any claim herein of scope and subject-matter corresponding with any claim in said other case.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a spring bed-bottom, the combination with a suitable framing, of coiled springs in parallel longitudinal series, the springs of one series alternating with those next adjacent, the spaces between the springs of each series increasing in dimension at different transverse points of the bottom, two pairs of relatively reversed angular tie-wires F, pivot: ally connected toa pair of transversely-alined coils of alternating longitudinal series, and pivotally connected at the convergences of their angles to the contiguous coils of the intermediate longitudinal series, by a longitunal tie-wire also directly connecting said contiguous coils.

2. In a spring bed-bottom, the combination with a suitable framing, of coiled springs having longitudinally opposite and side offsets, said springs being in parallel longitudi nal series, the springs of one series alternating with those next adjacent, the spaces between the springs of each series increasing in dimension at different transverse points of the bottom, a pair of relatively reversed angular tie-wires F, pivotally connected at their ends to the side offsets of a pair of transversely-alined coils of alternating longitudinal series, and pivotally connected at the convergences of their angles to the ofisets of the contiguous coils of the intermediate lon-v springs of the intermediate series and also clamping the central portion of the transverse ties to said intermediate springs.

4:. In a spring bed-bottom, the combination with a suitable framing, of a marginal series of side springs and an inner parallel series, the springs of which alternate with those of the side series, a yoke-shaped tie interposed between and connected with the side springs and connecting with an inner alternating.

spring.

5. In a spring bed-bottom, thecombination with a suitable framing, of a marginal series of side springs and an inner series, the springs of which alternate with those of the side springs, a yoke-shaped tie interposed between and connected with the side springs and having an outer rounded portion conforming with the outer parts of said side springs, said yokeshaped tie also connecting with an inner alternating spring.

6. In a spring bed-bottom, the combination with a suitable framing, of marginal side springs, an inner spring in relation thereto, and a yoke-shaped tie interposed between and connecting with the side springs, said yoke-tie having an outer rounded portion conforming with the outer parts of the side springs, and connected with the inner spring.

7. In a spring bed-bottom, the combination with a suitable framing, of marginal side springs and an inner spring in relation thereto, a longitudinal tie connecting said side springs, and a yoke-shaped tie interposed between with the side springs, having an outer rounded portion conforming with the outer parts thereof, clamped to said springs by the longitudinal tie and connected with the inner spring.

8. In a spring bed-bottom, the combination with a transverse series of vertically-coiled end springs and a parallel row of springs alternating therewith, of a transverse horizontal rod externally in the plane of the upper portions of the end springs and having inward bends g and angular end portions, the

latter secured to the remote springs of the series, the body of the rod being secured to the,

bends g, of the rod and by transversebraces with the contiguous end springs.

9. In a spring bed-bottom, the combination with end and alternating wire springs, of transverse angular ties connected with opposite parts of the end springs, straight ties connecting with the outer side of the corner spring of the end series and with the corresponding side of the adjacent end spring, a longitudinal tie clampingtheangular tie to the inner spring and anchored to the straight transverse tie. 1

. 10. In a spring bed-bottom, an end spring having a short section of wire connected at its ends to separated points of the spring-coil, a section of yielding material secured to said coil by a fastening device passing between 

